US weather service issues multiple tornado warnings across northern Arizona
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The gist
The National Weather Service issued multiple tornado warnings across northern Arizona Wednesday morning, including one for Flagstaff.
No tornadoes were confirmed, but such warnings are rare in Arizona.
Background
The National Weather Service, the US government agency that issues weather warnings, put out the alerts through its Flagstaff and Phoenix offices. All the activity came from a strong low-pressure system bringing rounds of showers and thunderstorms through Wednesday and Thursday. Tornado watches and warnings are relatively rare in Arizona, making the severe weather an unusual event for the state; according to the Arizona State Climate Office, Arizona averages four to six tornadoes per year, typically EF0 to EF2 (the weakest to moderate ratings on the tornado intensity scale).
How it unfolded
- Oct 21, 2026A tornado warning for Coconino County was in effect until 6:15 a.m. MST, covering Bellemont, Humphreys Peak and nearby areas.
- Oct 21, 2026A severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located at 5:31 a.m. 8 miles northeast of Perkinsville, moving northeast at 40 mph with quarter-size hail.
- Oct 21, 2026A severe thunderstorm warning was issued for Coconino and Navajo counties until 7:15 a.m. MST, with 60 mph wind gusts and quarter-size hail.
- Oct 21, 2026A tornado warning for Prescott Valley was issued at 7:49 a.m. after radar detected rotation and expired at 8:15 a.m., 26 minutes later.
- Oct 21, 2026Warnings for Yavapai County including Prescott and Prescott Valley were set to expire at 8:15 a.m., and a second Yavapai warning covering Jerome at 8:45 a.m. MST.
- Oct 21, 2026The National Weather Service issued a Coconino County warning until 9:45 a.m. for Flagstaff, Doney Park, Sunset Crater National Monument, Timberline and Wupatki Trails.
- Oct 21, 2026A tornado warning was in effect until 11:45 a.m. for Valle, Valle Airport and Red Butte Mountain, and until 4 p.m. in Navajo County for Show Low and nearby areas, where residents were advised to take cover now.
- Oct 21, 2026A tornado watch was issued until 6 p.m. for Coconino, Yavapai, Mohave and Navajo counties, with wind gusts possibly reaching 70 mph.
- Oct 22, 2026The latest tornado warning, for Coconino and Navajo counties including Chevelon Canyon Lake, expired at 6:45 p.m.; at least nine warnings had been issued Thursday with no tornadoes confirmed in Arizona.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- The National Weather Service warned that flying debris would be dangerous to those without shelter, that mobile homes could be damaged or destroyed, and that roof, window, vehicle and tree damage was likely.
- Expert
- Meteorologist Gabriel Lojero of the National Weather Service in Phoenix said strong low-level wind shear and directional turning of winds with height were likely behind a higher-than-normal risk of isolated tornadoes.
- Caution
- KTAR reported that earlier warnings for Prescott and other parts of Yavapai County expired without any tornado sightings.
Still unverified
No tornadoes had been confirmed in Arizona as of the Thursday report, and earlier warnings for Prescott, Prescott Valley, Clarkdale and Jerome expired without any tornado sightings.